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It’s time to modernise the Fatal Accidents Act

The 1976 Act does not reflect the realities of modern living, particularly with regard to the definition of the dependants of the deceased, argues Sanja Strkljevic

14 September 2017

It has been more than 17 years since the Law Commission made its recommendations to reform the Fatal Accidents Act 1976. To date, none of the recommendations have been implemented. There have been subsequent proposals for reform, in the Civil Law Reform Bill that was abandoned in 2011 and most recently in the Damages and Negligence Bill, which made no progress beyond its first reading in parliament.

The most recent and notable amendments to the 1976 Act have been to section 1(3) after the enactment of the Civil Partnership Act 2004, and in 2013 the increase of the bereavement award by 10 per cent. The Act does not reflect the realities of modern living.

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